New Ibiza exhibition – Madina Yabisa Exhibition

Madina Yabisa Exhibition – a unique insight into Ibiza during Muslim occupation. It’s considered across the world as being the ultimate party island, the island that never sleeps, the place to head to if you want a hedonistic holiday dominated by clubbing by night and sleeping off hangover during the day. But there is more to Ibiza than you might think…

Given Ibiza’s seemingly unshakable reputation as being the world’s biggest party destination, it is surprising to learn that for more than 300 years Muslims controlled the island.

In an attempt to bring the Muslim historical presence on Ibiza to the limelight, on 6 November, 2012, a new Ibiza exhibition  will be taking place at the Centre for Interpretation in the Casa de la Curia in Cathedral Square in Ibiza Town’s old town. The audiovisual exhibition it titled “Madina Yabisa” and will provide fascinating insight into what the island was like during Muslim occupation.

Ibiza boasts a colourful and intriguing history that for the best part has been fought over by European and North African powers. It is believed that the first settlers on Ibiza were Neolithic tribes that in around 4,500 BC came from the Iberian mainland. Although the earliest archaeological remains that were found on Ibiza were from the Bronze Age of approximately 2000 AC, the Cave de Ses Fontanelles.

The first settlers on the island were Phoenicians and were skilled merchants and seafarers who established a number of ports on Ibiza. Subsequent settlers on the island included the Romans, the Visigoths and the Moors who invaded Ibiza in the eight century. What followed was perhaps the most intriguing chapter of Ibiza’s tumultuous history – three hundred years of Muslim control.

In the early eleventh century, Ibiza had a predominantly Muslim population of which the corsair Mujahid, who also controlled the city of Denia on Spain’s mainland opposite Ibiza, could raid into Christian territory. The Muslim rulers of the Ibiza and the other Balearic islands during this time are believed to have become increasingly isolated from the Muslim world.

The Muslims occupying Ibiza were fundamentally ‘Almoravids’, supporters of a popular Islamic movement during the eleventh century. It is widely asserted that during the thirteenth century, either the kings of Aragon, the counts of Barcelona or the merchants of Catalonia, initiated attacks to re-conquer the Balearics from the Muslims. Following attacks made on Ibiza and Mallorca, the land on the island was divided amongst the conquering armies.

As a consequence of the 300 year period of Muslim rule on Ibiza, its influences can still be seen in the architecture, food and dress of the locals. It is this Muslim culture that is still visible on Ibiza that is the focus of “Madina Yabisa” exhibition, which if you happen to be in Ibiza Town in early November promises to be an eye-opening event.

You might be interested to know that Vintage Travel has a delightful collection of luxury villas in Ibiza.